Make your way to your local airport, where you will board your overnight flight(s). Your meals will be served on board.

Upon arriving at Pau or Toulouse airport, make your way to the baggage claim area and collect your luggage. Proceed to the arrivals hall, where you will be greeted by your tour guide and/or driver. Embark on a scenic drive to Lourdes. Check in to your hotel and relax or explore before dinner. Following dinner, you will have free time to pray the Rosary and to attend the candlelight procession (April – October only). During these processions, pilgrims join in praying the Holy Rosary. Following this prayerful experience, you will return to your hotel for an overnight.

Over the next two days, you will stay in a small town in the Pyrenees Mountains. During your time in Lourdes, you will pray and meditate at the site of Our Lady’s apparitions. Our Lady first appeared to Bernadette in 1858 and announced herself as “The Immaculate Conception” near the Grotto of Massabielle. During the first two apparitions, little Bernadette prayed the Rosary with Our Lady and left without exchanging words. During the following apparitions, Our Lady emphasized God’s love for us and the necessity of performing acts of penance for sinners. Throughout your time in Lourdes, you will have the opportunity to attend Mass at the Grotto, where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette. Watch a video presentation that explains the story of Lourdes. Wash your hands, wash your face, and drink the water of the miraculous spring. Finish with a short prayer: “Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. St. Bernadette, pray for us. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” Experience Christ’s unconditional love as you meditate upon the “life-size” Stations of the Cross that overlook the Grotto of Massabielle. In Lourdes, you will walk in and meditate upon the footsteps of St. Bernadette. Your group will have the opportunity to see Boly Mill, the birthplace of St. Bernadette, and the “Cachot,” an abandoned prison where Bernadette’s impoverished family lived. Each evening, following dinner, you can attend the candlelight procession and pray the Rosary before a restful overnight.

Morning departure from Lourdes to the airport to board your flight(s) to Rome. Upon arrival at Rome airport, collect your luggage in the baggage claim area and continue to the arrival hall, where you will be greeted by a tour escort and/or driver. You will make your way to the bus and transfer to your hotel. Following check-in, you will have free time to unpack, relax, or explore Rome on your own. Your tour escort may suggest places to visit. Later in the afternoon, your group will meet in the hotel lobby for a “Meet and Greet” with your fellow pilgrims and depart for Mass. Following Mass, you will attend a welcome dinner. After dinner, you can walk to St. Peter’s Square as a group for the Rosary (optional).

After a nice breakfast at your hotel, your first sightseeing day in Rome starts! The tour begins with the Papal Audience in St. Peter’s Square! The Audience is celebrated each Wednesday by His Holiness, the Pope (pending the papal schedule). Following the Audience, there will be free time for lunch, shopping, or to mail a postcard from the Vatican Post Office. This afternoon, you will visit the oldest of the four major Basilicas in Rome: The Basilica of St. John the Lateran. This Basilica houses the relics of Peter and Paul. It is where the Pope was installed as Bishop of Rome and where he officiates as the Bishop of Rome. Next, we will cross the street to visit the Holy Staircase. Tradition states that this Staircase is from Pontius Pilate’s palace in Jerusalem during the time of Jesus. It was brought to Rome by St. Helen in the 4th Century. If time permits, you may climb the steps on your knees while meditating on Christ’s agonizing Passion. Proceed to the Basilica of St. Mary Major. This Basilica contains a relic from the Manger of the Infant Jesus. Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight.

This morning, you will enjoy an early breakfast before making your way to the largest Church in Christendom: St. Peter’s Basilica. This Basilica was built on the site where St. Peter, the first Pope and Bishop of Rome, was martyred. Here, you can view Michelangelo’s Pieta. This stunning marble sculpture depicts the Virgin Mary holding Christ after His crucifixion, death, and removal from the cross before being placed in the tomb. Proceed to the Vatican Museum, where you will see the most impressive edifices, galleries, and awe-inspiring relics. Observe the Tapestry Gallery, Raphael Rooms, Sistine Chapel, and the restored mural of the Last Judgment. The final stop on your Vatican tour is at the tomb of Saint John Paul II. After, head to the Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Fountain), where you may enjoy some free time on your own for lunch. Continue on your short journey down the Appian Way, the earliest road of Ancient Rome. This road leads to the Domino Quo Vadis Chapel, the Baths of Caracalla, the Arch of Drusus, the Tomb of Cecilia Metella, and the catacombs of St. Callixtus. The day concludes with a visit to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Originally founded by Emperor Constantine in the 4th Century, this Basilica is the burial place of Saint Paul the Apostle. We will make our way to a local restaurant for dinner. Following dinner, feel free to explore the streets of Rome or return to the hotel for the evening.

Following breakfast, you will board your bus to enjoy the scenic route to Montecassino. Pass through the Roman countryside, known for its villas and vineyards. During the bus ride, your tour escort will share interesting information regarding Italy’s spiritual, historical, and cultural history. Montecassino, the principal monastery of the Benedictine Order, was founded by Saint Benedict around 530 A.D. Following the tour, we will be able to visit the gift shop before we board the bus and continue toward San Giovanni Rotondo, the hometown of St. Padre Pio. Upon arrival in San Giovanni Rotondo, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at your hotel.

This morning, enjoy breakfast, and then we will visit the Old Church. After Mass, we will tour the sanctuary. Here, you will view the crucifix, in front of which St. Pio received the stigmata. Visit the confessional from where St. Pio spent innumerable hours listening to confessions. Next, we will board the bus and travel along the beautiful Gargano Peninsula to the Grotto of St. Michael the Archangel. St. Michael appeared to a Bishop at this Grotto to assure him that his diocese would not be destroyed as he feared. Following the visit to the Grotto, enjoy free time. On the drive back to San Giovanni Rotondo, enjoy breathtaking ocean views. Upon arrival, you will have time for devotion and reflection. Dinner and overnight.

*Candlelight Procession: Between May and October, attend the weekly Candlelight Procession at the Sanctuary of St. Pio at 9:00 PM. These processions are lit by candlelight and are guided by the Most Holy Rosary. Following this prayerful experience, you will return to your hotel for a restful overnight.

After breakfast, depart for Assisi. On the way, stop in Lanciano for private Mass at the Convent/Church of Saint Francis built on top of the antique Church of St. Longinus. This Church is the site of a Eucharistic Miracle that occurred in the 8th Century. At the time of the miracle, there was a Basilian monk who struggled with the belief in the Real Presence in the Eucharist. During Mass, the monk, with doubt in his voice, said the words of consecration and was astounded as he witnessed the bread and wine transformed into Christ’s physical flesh and blood. Leave for the Marian Shrine of Loreto to visit the Holy House of Nazareth and the beautiful Madonna of Loreto. Tradition holds that this is the house where Mary first prayed the Magnificat, where Jesus grew up, and where the Holy Family lived together in Nazareth. It was transported several times by angels to its current location. End the day in Assisi, hometown of St. Francis and St. Clare, with dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Enjoy an early breakfast, followed by a full day of touring the hometown of St. Francis. St. Francis is the “Patron Saint of Animals and the Environment”. He founded the Franciscan Order and has inspired millions with his life of simplicity and humility. The atmosphere in Assisi has not changed since St. Francis began his ministry in the early 13th Century. We will start our tour at the Basilica of St. Francis Basilica. Visit his tomb, view a series of frescoes depicting his life, and see a few of the Saint’s possessions. Continue on a walking tour through this picturesque town, including the birthplace of St. Francis. Our tour ends at the Church that honors St. Clare, the foundress of the Poor Clare Sisters. This Saint followed the teachings of St. Francis very closely by also living a life of poverty and humility. Enjoy some time for prayer, shopping, or a nice lunch. After lunch, we will board the bus, which will take us outside the walls of Assisi to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. This Basilica is where St. Francis spent most of his life. This Basilica is made up of two structures. The first structure is the “Porziuncola” where St. Francis founded his order of the Friars Minor (Franciscans). The second is the “Capella del Transito”, where St. Francis died. Visit the beautiful Rose Garden where St. Francis and other friars lived and the cave where the Saint retired to pray. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning, you will ride through the beautiful Umbrian mountains to Orvieto. This incredible town sits on a volcanic high rock formation. Here, we visit one of Italy’s most beautiful and renowned Cathedrals. Because of its strategic location, its Christian history officially started in 1004, but Orvieto was built over preexisting Etruscan-era cave tunnels dating back 2,500 years. Some historians believe Christians used to celebrate Mass here at a time when Christianity was forbidden. Return to Assisi for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, enjoy a scenic drive to the Tuscan city of Siena. This medieval city is the birthplace of St. Catherine, “Doctor of the Church”, and the Apostle of Italy, St. Bernardine. Visit the Basilica of St. Catherine, which is also known as the Basilica of St. Domenico. St. Catherine spent much of her life inside the walls of this Basilica. Here you will be able to view the incorrupt head of St. Catherine. After, we will visit the Shrine of St. Catherine, which occupies the site of her family home. Enjoy our walking tour through Siena, which includes a visit to its Cathedral (Duomo di Siena). We will conclude at one of Italy’s finest squares, the Piazza Del Campo, where you will have free time to spend at your leisure. Several restaurants surround the square for lunch, as well as shops for gifts and souvenirs. Continue to Florence, which is the land for art lovers. Many world-renowned artists are from Florence, such as Dante, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, Donatello, and many others. For the remainder of the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to explore the streets of Florence at leisure. In the evening, gather for dinner, followed by an overnight.

In Florence, your day begins with breakfast, followed by a guided tour. The tour starts at the Church of the Holy Cross, the Santa Croce, where many nobles, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli, are buried. Walk by Piazza Signorina, Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio, and Republic Square to the Santa Maria del Fiore. This Cathedral is an iconic piece of architecture in Florence. It was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in the 13th Century. Next, visit the L’Accademia, a well-known art gallery, where you can view the work of artists such as Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Pontormo, and the famous David sculpture by Michelangelo. This afternoon, you will have time to explore Florence on your own. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.

Following breakfast at your hotel, board the motor coach for your transfer to Padua. This Northern Italian city honors St. Anthony, the “Patron Saint of Lost Things and Causes”. You will begin with a sightseeing tour, including a view of one of the oldest Universities in Italy, the University of Padua, as well as the Basilica of Santa Giustina, the “Patron Saint of Padua.” The tour will conclude at the Basilica of St. Anthony, where you will have the opportunity to visit his tomb. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

After an early breakfast, board your bus and depart to the magical city of Venice. After Mass, enjoy a tour of the “city paved with water”. Your walking tour includes a visit to St. Mark’s Square, the largest square in the city and the site of many government buildings. See the Golden Basilica of San Marco, known for the great mosaics that depict the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Stroll along the Bridge of Sigh, a bridge that will bring eternal love to those who drift below it. You will also have the chance to view the Doges’ Palace (Duke’s Palace), which served as the seat of the Government for the Republic of Venice for centuries. Return to Padua for dinner and overnight.

After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, transfer to Venice airport for your return flight(s) home.

*206 Tours Disclaimer:
Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.